A Message from the President ·
2007 WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR THE CONSERVANCY. We increased our membership by 34 new families, enjoyed a fabulous Ramble, gathered in the Rather’s barn for another great Annual Meeting, and presented forums on Greenspace Acquisition, Transfer of Development Rights, Conservation Easements, and Biofuel and Carbon Sequtration Markets. Through volunteer committee work, the Conservancy reviewed and commented on proposed developments and began to research innovative ideas for the County to consider when updating the Comprehensive Plan. In conjunction with updating the Comp Plan, we are advocating for the update of Morgan County’s Greenprint.
Last year we became painfully aware that water is a precious, non-renewable resource. Planning for our County’s water supply is important, but more important is incorporating water conservation measures into our daily lives and into our development regulations. We know some important facts from the Greenprint: there are large Groundwater Recharge areas in Morgan County that return surface water to our aquifers; Morgan County has a limited number of streams, most of which are relatively healthy; and development in Morgan County depends on wells and septic tanks for water and wastewater provision. As a result, Morgan County’s water quality and quantity will be affected by the development plans our elected officials, planners, and developers allow.
Reducing the amount of impervious surface (letting groundwater soak into the land recharging the aquifers), buffering our streams (filtering our water, preventing quick runoff, keeping the water on the land, and preventing erosion of the stream beds by slowing the rate of water flow), and promoting energy efficient building standards (LEED certification for commercial development and Earthcraft certification for residential development), will all help ensure Morgan County’s water quality and quantity. Of course, continued education on water quality and quantity issues to Morgan County residents and to upstream residents is extremely important and is part of the Conservancy’s mission.
Water is one resource. Morgan County is lucky to have a plethora of resources though: clean air, rich soil, beautiful historic landscapes, agriculture, and an architecturally and historically significant built environment, creating a quality of life that is the envy of communities all over the world. Mother Nature, the source of all our resources and the embodiment of the natural course of life itself, is the most important resource to protect. I believe if we study the patterns in nature and learn to trust the natural course of things and work within those confines, we will gain a different kind of control of our world – control of our own actions for the benefit, not the detriment, of our world. If we can move from the knowledge that we have a problem to acknowledging that we, in many ways, are the problem, we will be well on our way to solution and remedy.
Let’s study the problems, learn from nature, and evaluate our resources through updating the Greenprint. We can help shape a future that is full of promise. After all, the larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shore of wonder and appreciation.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the Conservancy and its work in 2007. We look forward to the challenges ahead and are proud of our members and the commitment each of you brings to our preservation efforts. Thank you all.
Sincerely,
Mary McCauley
President
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